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(N9 Model.)

T. H'Ass. ALBUM CLASP. No. 382,302. I Patented May 8,1888.

New York city, in the county and State of UNITED STATES ATENT @rrrcn.

THEODORE M. HASS, or new YORK, n. Y.

ALBUM-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 382,302, dated May 8, 18818.

Application filed February 29, 1888. Serial No. 265,672. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE M. HASS, of

New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Album-Clasps, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement in albumclasps; and the invention consists of an album-clasp constructed and arranged and combined in the manner hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure lis a front view of the clasp attached to an album; Fig. 2, an edge view of the same; Fig. 3, a crosssection in the plane or m, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows the interior mechanism, the back plate being removed. Fig. 5 is a like view, showing the parts in different positions. Fig. 6 shows a portion of the interior of the clasp.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

This invention relates particularly to that class of album-clasps that are designed to be adjustable as the thickness of the album may increase or diminish by'additions to or removals from its contents.

Adjustable album-clasps are old and well known, one of which was patented to me on the 10th of June, 1884, No. 300,070, and as an improvement on that patented clasp I have made my present invention, which I describe by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein A represents the shell or casing of my clasp. Hinged or pivoted to this casing is the ordinary clamp a, by which the clasp is fastened to the edge of one of thecovers of the album, as in Fig. 1. Within this casing A is snugly fitted an extension-plate, B, its lower part being provided centrally with a slot, 1), through which passes a'stud,e,which is riveted to the casing A. The plate Bis also provided with a cleat or stud, f, and with an' orifice, g, the latter at or near its upper edge. The upper portion of the plate projects beyond the up per edge of the casing A. To this extensionplate B are fixed two springs, h and h, which conform to some extent to recesses k and k in the sides of the casing A,the edges of these recesses being flanged to form guides for these springs.

Pivoted to the casing A are two bellcrank levers, G and D. The upper arms, m, of these levers abut against the cleatfof the plate and the lower arrns,u,of the levers span across the recesses 7c and k in the casing A,and so preserve the symmetrical rectangular outline of the clasp orits casing. The lower arrns,a,ofthe levers O and D are each provided with afingerrest, 0, which projects beyond the outline of the casing A. Extending from one lever to the other and around the stud c is a spring, 1), which governs or actuates the levers G and D. Covering the casing A,and so inclosing within the casing the plate B, levers O and D, and the springs h and h, and 19, before named, isa back plate, E, suitably riveted in place to the easing. Now, the clasp being fixed to one cover of the album by the clamp a, a stud, s, is fixed to'the edge of the other cover, so that the stud may enter into the orifice g of the plate B. This completes the clasp and its attachments.

The operation of the clasp is as follows: The clasp beingin the position just described, the covers of the book at their front edges are held together by it. As the album from time to time has added to it pictures, 820., the plate B is drawn out from its casing A to meet theincreased thickness of the book, and when the pictures are removed this plate, by the action of its springs h and h, recedes within the easing, and so the clasp is adjusted to the varying thickness of the album and atthe same time unites the covers. To unfasten the plate 13,111 order to open the album or to release this plate from its engagement with the stud s, it is simply necessary with the fingers to press inward the finger-rests o. This forces inward the bell-crank levers C and D and causes them to push upward the plate B. This reduces the tension between the covers of the album and the clasp and so makes it an easy matter to free the orifice g from the stud s and turn the clasp back on its hinges; but it is to be observed that while the inward pressure on the bell-crank levers G and D will force upward the plateB,still this plate when extended from or drawn into its casing A by the increasing or lessening of the thickness of the album 0perates entirely independently of the levers O and D, which are then wholly undisturbed, and the result of this automatic adjustment of the clasp or itsplate B is effected without drawing in or forcing outward the arms of the bell-crank levers, and these levers therefore remain in their normal position to bridge over the recesses 70 and 7c, and so preserve the straight outline of the casing A of the clasp. This is an essential feature of my invention, for in the album-clasp heretofore patented by me, as stated, the automatic operation of the clasp necessarily involved under all circumstances a change in the position or form of outline of the clasp, causing the clasp to appear homely and unfinished when in use on an album. As is perhaps obvious, the purpose of the recesses 75 and 7c is to facilitate the pushing inward of the levers G and D.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an album-clasp, the combination of the spring-regulated extension element,and levers Oand D,constructed and operating in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. In an adjustable album-clasp, the following elements in combination, an extension device and springs to actuate the same, levers C and D,engaging with said devieeand provided with finger-rests 0, and an actuating-spring, p, for said levers, substantially as described.

3. In the herein-described adjustable albumclasp,the casing A thereof,with recesses 70 and 

